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Topic: Best of 2008 (Read 17260 times)

I can never limit my choices to a top ten list. I keep track all year & trim it down as the year comes to a close. So somehow this year I ended up with the random number of 24 in my "Best of" list. Here is the list in alphabetical order...

Alio Die - aura seminalis - alio die released some great music this year. I guess I could group all of them together here but I'll list this as my favorite. The cd "tries to recreate the solemn atmospheres of the courts of the Italian Renaissance", and amazingly it comes off as transcendent instead of cheesy. Stefano Musso's recent releases all do this very well, like his collaboration with vocalist Martina Galvagni, Elusian Lullaby. He takes concepts, that would not work in the hands of another, and makes them work beautifully.

Arve Henriksen - cartography - a beautifully layered recording from trumpeter henriksen. Texture is more important than virtuosity here. A melancholy, tranquil landscape works perfectly with Henriksen's vocal-like trumpet.

Deaf Center - vintage well - More great cinematic music. I guess there was a lot of fantastic cinematic music this year.

Disturbed Earth - Butterfly - An excellent ambient release from Atmoworks. From a live "living room" concert in August 1977. The albumwas recorded live with no overdubs using a double neck guitar and a violin bow on the 12-string and playing the 6-string. He used two tape decks set up about 8 feet apart in a continuous loop. A classic ambient feel that is even more amazing knowing how & when it was recorded.

Elbow - Live from London – Beautiful, intimate, live iTunes only release. Any fan of Elbow MUST own this.

Elbow - the seldom seen kid – There isn’t any other band that evokes beauty, melancholy & joy like Elbow. This is an absolutely fantastic recording.

Eluder - the most beautiful blue - deep layers that never get too dark or too light. A just right mixture of drifting textures & aquatic sounds.

Grouper - Dragging a Dead Deer Up A Hill - a good collection of eerie folk songs wrapped in reverb & hazy ambience.

Hans-joachim Roedelius & Tim Story - inlandish - I love how this release sounds old & new at the same time. Some of the tunes just have this indescribable retro Roedelius feel to them, like the song "Beforst". A warm, melodic beauty.

Jacaszek – treny – Real instruments played by real musicians with some electronic manipulation make this a stellar release in a year filled with great cinematic music.

Jeff Pearce - Rainshadow Sky – I know this one is a bit too close to New Age for some regular forumites, but I found it to be beautiful without being too sappy.

Johann Johannsson – fordlandia – This cd from Johannsson takes the cinematic/orchestral theme of this year to another level. He does it with a 60 piece orchestra, piano, organ, choir & electronics. The music is lush and intense.

Marconi Union - a lost connection – more dubby ambient music. I listened to a lot of dubby stuff this year & Marconi Union does this style wonderfully.

Martin Grech - march of the lonely – this one actually came out in 2007 but I discovered it right at the beginning of this year and I listened to constantly from then on. From an online review “…a moody acoustic delicacy, dreamlike calm and layered vocals which recall monastic plainsong or a lovelorn choir.”

Steve Roach - a deeper silence – I played this for days all through the house, the slow washes & low bass hum rumbling from room to room. I felt like I was on some inter-stellar spacecraft. Great sleep music too.

the caretaker - Persistent repetition of phrases - Similar to his other releases in that it sounds like he is channeling the haunting atmospherics of The Shining. However, this one is a bit more ambient.

---- I know these don’t count as actual releases, but I think I listened to the guitar mixes of Alan Lockett more than anything else this year. You can find them here… http://albient.livejournal.com/2468.html . These mixes are a great collection of ambient guitar meanderings that introduced me to a lot of new artists & music.

I am kind of torn between 3 Albums for #1. When the first theme of "Moment of Grace" appear (this lovely String/ChoirHarmony) then i almost melt away. And on the other Hand there is "Auf der Gasse" which is mind blowing. And then thereis Take That. I can proudly say, that this is one of my all time favorite bands. And "Greatest Day" is perhaps the bestPop Song that was ever written. Got goosebumps every time i hear it. So those 3 are on #1 i guess.

Description Without Place- FilamentsBeta Two Agonist- Autumn PerdueFabio Orsi- Wild light of the MoonNunc Stans- The Palm at the End of The MindCymphonic- StrataradialisHakobune- We Left the Window Open SometimesWereju- The End of Everything

We have been blessed with so many great releases this year, it will be fun to try and sort through them to find the best. Many releases this year that I want have still not been acquired, but what immediately comes to mind (in no particular order):

We have been blessed with so many great releases this year, it will be fun to try and sort through them to find the best. Many releases this year that I want have still not been acquired, but what immediately comes to mind (in no particular order):

Hmmm, strange that you mentioned The Fun Years. I just bought that Baby, It's Cold Inside download from Boomkat yesterday, when I noticed that they'd proclaimed it "The Years Best Album". I also know that the Boomkat people often seem crazed with enthusiasm and hyperbole for ANY kind of sound, but I figured what the hell...I quite like it! It's got a nice, drifty, casual sound that's refreshingly "un-intense". I've been listening to a lot of Wereju lately, and this provides a nice antidote. But I certainly don't think it's the years best.

I forgot to add "Songs From the Beehive" to my list. Actually heard one of the tunes from it on late night radio last night, and thought it sounded so great, and when the dj announced the album I realized I had it! Got to give it a more complete listen...

Hello! You've got excellent taste in music! That Raison d'Etre album is great, isn't it?. Just headphoned it last night and I realize that RdE is "up there" with the greats for me at this point. I am curious, can you please describe the new Herbst9 album. I am kind of a fan of theirs, and liked Through Bleak Landscapes, but I am hesitating about getting the new one...

As always it is difficult to compile the best of for any type of year....usually what I consider to be my best of are those discs that I return to consistently. I'm a bit of a nut since I keep track of how much I listen to a CD, Record, Free Download, or Cassette. Then I count the amount of days I have actually owned the CD and divide that by the amount of listens. I know that this is not the best system but it works for me and most importantly it contains the albums that moved me throughout the year....so hear they are...

Oh and you should really check this one out I am listening to it as I Type awayDaizok - Autumn Scences - Install (Remember the Manintou from last year....well this one floored me and came out of nowhere...it's very very good....i've got three already for next year)

Hi, 9dragons! The new Herbst9 is a quirky one to be sure. It's a bit of a mix between "From a Dark Chasm Below" and "Consolamentum" with some tribal elements thrown in. Reminds me a bit of Post Scriptvm in places, in ethos at least. The percussion is sometimes a bit cheesy, but it's not too obtrusive. I have to say they're one of very few ambient acts who can use vocal samples well (this is usually a huge turn-off for me). All in all, it's a pretty unique journey. I recommend checking it out. You can find some samples here if you'd like a taste.